Strategist
Dr. Bruce DeRuntz is a leadership development professional, educator, author, speaker, and coach dedicated to preparing individuals and organizations for real-world leadership. As Director of the Leadership Development Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a Professor in the College of Engineering, he has spent more than two decades helping students and professionals develop the leadership capabilities needed to succeed in today's workplace.
His work focuses on bridging the gap between technical expertise and leadership effectiveness, empowering people to become more capable leaders and stronger contributors to their organizations.
Before entering higher education, Dr. DeRuntz spent approximately ten years in industry working in quality engineering, quality management, supplier development, project management, and operations leadership roles within the automotive and defense sectors. His career included positions with companies such as A.O. Smith Automotive Products and Emerson Electric Corporation, as well as consulting work with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. These experiences provided firsthand insight into the leadership challenges faced by technical professionals and ultimately inspired his passion for leadership development.
Since joining Southern Illinois University in 1998, he has led numerous leadership development initiatives and secured multiple grants from the National Science Foundation to support research and innovation in technical leadership education. He has also served as Editor of ASQ's Quality Management Forum, Associate Editor of the Journal of Industrial Technology, and President of the Industry Division for the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE).
Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
M.S. in Manufacturing Systems
B.S. in Industrial Technology, Eastern Illinois University
Dr. DeRuntz is the co-author of the book Work Ready, which combines leadership principles, practical workplace lessons, and real-world stories to help individuals become more effective leaders.
His Leadership Development Program at Southern Illinois University has achieved exceptionally strong student outcomes, including near-universal graduation rates and high job placement rates prior to graduation.
He is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality, one of the highest honors awarded by the organization.
